Safety, First?

Fact or Fiction: Brazilian Blowouts are Bad for Your Health

Is it just me or are ads for Brazilian Blowouts everywhere you turn? I can’t tell you how many Groupons and fliers end up in my face. As a woman with semi-wavy/very annoying hair the promise of relief is very tempting! The results look and feel amazing but I’ve been hearing the treatment isn’t safe and wanted to investigate before going under the heat myself. You may be shocked by what I found!

According to the Brazilian Blowout’s official Website, the treatment promises, “Smooth, healthy, frizz-free hair! Through the use of innovative and breakthrough bonding technologies, these treatments actually improve the health and condition of the hair by creating a protective protein layer around the hair shaft to eliminate frizz and smooth the cuticle.”

Sounds great, right? A treatment that actually makes your hair better! You have to go to a certified stylist to get one and it should take about 90 minutes to perform. The results typically last up to 12 weeks. Celebs like Jennifer Anniston, Salma Hayek and Halle Berry have publicly given love and credit to Brazilian Blowout.

But is it safe?

The FDA released a letter stating the hair treatment is definitely bad for your health! Makers of Brazilian Blowout have been formally told by the organization that the product is unsafe because it releases formaldehyde (the same nasty smelling stuff they keep dead animals preserved with in science class) when heat is applied. Which would all be fine except heat is the main attraction. Between the blow-dryer and hair straightener you’ve got carcinogens all over the place. What’s even worse is the company was falsely putting, “formaldehyde free” on their ads and products…

Brazilian Blowout has responded to the sticky situation formally on their website saying, “In our continued effort to clear up misinformation about the Brazilian Blowout, we are delighted to be working with the FDA in demonstrating that the Brazilian Blowout complies with both state and federal guidelines. Rest assured we will continue to provide you, our loyal customers, with the latest information as it becomes available. You can continue to confidently offer the Brazilian Blowout treatment to your customers with the knowledge that Brazilian Blowout falls well below the stringent standards set forth by OSHA.”

What does that mean in the meantime?! Time Magazine published they think the product will be pulled by the FDA by the middle of the month. So if you don’t care about the dangers, you may want to make your appointment soon. For me, I think I’ll wait till things get straightened out (no pun intended).

Make no mistake- the friends of mine who’ve had it done look awesome! What about you? Have you ever had the treatment? Would you still have it done?